Buckling and and Laminated Dynamics of Multilayered Plates under Initial Stress?

The continuum mechanics of multilayered plates under initial stress is developed to include the case where some or all of the layers are constituted by thinly laminated materials with couple stresses. It is applicable to problems of buckling, dynamics and vibrations. This includes the evolution of viscoelastic creep buckling and vibration absorption. Results are obtained in two forms. One is derived from a rigorous analysis using the general theory of incremental deformations, the other provides drastic simplifications while retaining essential physical features which are consequences of the continuum behavior. Use of a particular definition of incremental stress is emphasized which is of special advantage in the type of problems under consideration. Corresponding variational principles are also formulated. Exact and approximate theories are compared both analytically and numerically. Excellent agreement is obtained.